Zenith Global Logistics, which hauls and delivers home and hotel furnishings across much of the nation, needed more capacity. So its managers looked around and rediscovered low-floor, high-cube van trailers that the fleet used 20 years ago.

Demand for vocational trucks and trailers continues to be pushed by oil and gas producers, road building and municipal business, according to truck manufacturers and researchers. Revivals in housing and commercial construction are also factors as vocational Class 8 retail truck sales are up 9.2% through July compared to last year, and should be up by 16.4% for all of 2014.

Richard Giromini was appointed president and CEO of Wabash National Corp. on Jan. 1, 2007, putting him in the position of navigating the trailer maker through the Great Recession. We spoke with him about topics ranging from trailer innovation to the future of manufacturing in the U.S.

It’s been 14 years since repairing any trailer’s “ICC bumper” was a simple matter of cutting off the damaged section and welding on a straight piece of angle iron. Most trailers built since Jan. 26, 1998, have been equipped with more complex required rear impact guards that are not only stronger but are designed to absorb shock from a collision.

Bruce Purkey knows where the electrons go. And, as president of Purkey’s Fleet Electric and his many activities in the Technology & Maintenance Council of the American Trucking Associations, he’s well aware that some of them flow to batteries that support the electric-over-hydraulic systems for liftgates on trucks and trailers. Usually there are two and as many as four Group 31 batteries, like the ones on a truck or tractor.

Common sense suggests that if a trailer’s doors are open, its refrigeration unit ought to be shut down. But many customers disagree, thinking the products will be better protected if cooled air continues to circulate as freight is being unloaded.

Craig Bennett, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co., recently sat down with HDT Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge to talk about the company's 100 years in business.

After traveling more than 124 million miles in space, the Space Shuttle Endeavour had one more 14.2-mile journey to make through the streets of Los Angeles to its final resting space at the California Science Center.

As fleets everywhere work on cutting fuel expenses, one strategy is shedding pounds anywhere they can stand to lose them. “Most fleets that are fuel conscientious are weight conscientious. The heavier the unit weighs, the higher cost per mile to operate it."

SAF-Holland shares some tips for inspecting a rigid-mount, air cushioned pintle hook, primarily used for double and triple trailer configurations using converter dollies, as well as straight trucks such as dumps that pull rigid tongue equipment trailers.

Over the years, electrical failures have been the number one problem with trailers. Lighting problems have been reduced by the wider adoption of LED lighting. However, even LEDs, along with the rest of the electrical system, are subject to corrosion, which remains a major headache.

Nobody balances trailer wheels, but oddly, they are the wheels on a truck most likely in need of balancing. With a few ounces of balancing material, those tires might easily run tens of thousands more miles before final removal.

During the early years of the Great Recession, almost all trailer manufacturers experienced a sharp drop in demand for their wares. Dry bulk pneumatic trailers, however, were about to get a boon. Read more about the state of the dry bulk pneumatic trailer segment, how fracking has affected the industry, plus trailer-spec’ing tips.

Whether it's dumps or dry vans, flatbeds or tank trailers, trailer makers have been focusing on making trailers lighter to improve freight capacity and fuel efficiency, safer for drivers, and stronger to extend the trailer’s life cycle. We contacted trailer manufacturers and learned about the latest in trailers, manufacturing, product innovations and corporate news.

There aren’t many things less aerodynamic than a box. And a dry van trailer is basically a 53-foot box on wheels. The drag caused by that box and its effect on fuel economy is a challenge that has been taken up by the SuperTruck program.

It takes special people to be flatbedders. Tarping, however, is usually not on their list of favorite activities.
A single tarpaulin can weigh 65 to 100 pounds or more. It must be half thrown and half dragged over the load, spread evenly with corners properly folded and tucked in, and the whole piece of slippery fabric secured with straps and bungies.

When the economy took a dive in 2008 and the construction industry's work dried up, so did much of the market for dump trailers.
As construction begins coming back, there's a growing demand for new dumps. Demand also is being driven by other emerging trends in the market.

When you are getting ready to put a dry van trailer out to pasture and begin the process of searching for its replacement, there are many things to consider: maintenance costs, fuel-economy regulations, payload and the weight of the trailer, to name a few.
One way to navigate through the maze of options is to follow some tips a few trailer manufacturers shared with us.

Seems like an easy decision. Choose a trailer and go. But before adding just one or several hundred trailers, a fleet manager needs to determine what's right for the application. Considerations include space and weight capacities, laws and regulations, trailer age and regional-specific specifications

One of the most common reasons for an officer to pull a driver over is for a faulty light. Below are some basic guidelines on how to troubleshoot some of the problems that may arise with a trailer lighting system

To provide a simpler, easier and safer entrance to and exit from the flatbed deck, East Manufacturing first introduced an optional integrated stairway a few years ago. Now East has improved this option by adding a locking door enclosur

The Uinta Basin in northeastern Utah is among the places in the U.S. where natural gas is being recovered in the ongoing energy boom. As in other areas, great quantities of specially treated water are being used to liberate the ga

One of the hottest segments of trailer building is flatbeds. The freight they carry is moving briskly, especially in the automotive and energy sectors, but prosperity is somewhat spotty, say fleet managers.

Over the years, advances in trailer materials and design have added life, cut maintenance and operating costs and even improved safety. Based on our observations at trade shows, new product announcements and conversations with manufacturers and fleets, we came up with the following list of significant trends

With just two full-time facilities to handle maintenance on a fleet of more than 2,700 trailers scattered across the lower 48 states and Mexico, conducting regular trailer inspections can be a daunting task for Murray, Ky.-based Paschall Truck Lines.

Vehicle maintenance violations are a huge threat to a carrier's safety record. There are close to 200 separate violations on FMCSA's list of point-carrying infractions, and many carry ratings of 5 points or higher

Are truck and trailer aerodynamics new? Not exactly. Labatt's Streamliners like the one shown on the right were built in the 1930s and might be the most aerodynamic looking tractor-trailers ever produced.

"Box" and tank trailers can carry any number of things, and their interiors are specially designed for durability, long life, low maintenance and light weight. We found a number of interesting examples at the recent Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky., in late March

There always have been a lot of reasons for drivers to do effective pre- and post-trip inspections on trailers and power units. Starting in 2010, we've had another: Compliance, Safety, Accountability better known as CSA